The Torn World

[Please check my patreon/OGCrafter for 20+ chapters]

"What happened? Who is fighting in the Sixth Dimension?"

"That guy, Tiboro, really underestimated him. To think he could push things to this extent..."

"Someone is actually shaking my domain—who's launching the invasion?"

"Near the Sixth Dimension... could it be a powerful Dimensional Lord? I'm afraid only someone like Dormammu could fight at this level."

The battle between Aaron and Tiboro had spread across dimensions.

The Dimensional Lord, who had always remained in their respective territories, now turned their attention to the source of the disturbance.

They weren't interested in standing up for Tiboro. Instead, they were more concerned about who was invading the Sixth Dimension.

If Tiboro lost, who would be the next target?

Their territories were close to the Sixth Dimension, and the last thing they wanted was an unstable and dangerous neighbor. If they couldn't defend themselves, they might become the next victims.

That was why they paid such close attention to the reason behind this battle.

They needed to know which top-tier Dimensional Lord had started a new war—so they could be prepared.

At the same time, they were shocked by Tiboro's strength. This seemingly weak and unimpressive neighbor had revealed incredible power today.

He had been hiding his true strength all along!

But the impact of the battle wasn't limited to their dimension.

Even Mephisto, who had yet to return to his lair in Hell, felt the aftershocks.

He turned his gaze toward the battle, his expression filled with surprise.

"Isn't that Tiboro's territory? Who in the world is invading the Sixth Dimension and forcing him into such a desperate situation?"

His mind raced.

Could it be the same mysterious entity that invaded the Purple Dimension?

Had Aggamon already lost?

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Mephisto changed course and headed toward the Sixth Dimension.

But before he could go far, he suddenly stopped.

Then, without hesitation, he turned around and raced back to his lair.

"Aggamon and Tiboro both ran into trouble, and the battles started after they left their dimensions...

"If my guess is correct, the invader is exploiting their absence!"

"A sneak attack when they're not home—damn it, I've been used!"

Mephisto's thoughts spun rapidly. He was both curious about this mysterious invader and filled with fear.

It was like a mantis stalking a cicada, only to be watched by an oriole from behind.

He thought he was the oriole—

But now, he realized that a hunter with a slingshot had been hiding behind him all along.

This level of manipulation was infuriating.

He even suspected that he might be the next target.

Just in case, he decided to rush back to his own dimension.

Relying on the Blackheart Demons was unrealistic.

They had been weakened before, and their strength had yet to recover.

If he wasn't at home, he'd be vulnerable.

Because based on the battle he was sensing, the invader's strength was enough to threaten him.

And who knew if they were still holding back?

Anyone bold enough to scheme against three Dimensional Lord at once was definitely not someone to take lightly!

It was best to be cautious.

Meanwhile, Aaron had no idea that Mephisto had abandoned his plans out of fear that he would come knocking.

In truth, Aaron had briefly considered visiting the Hell Dimension again.

If Mephisto was indeed involved, he wouldn't have minded making a mess of Hell once more—

Just to teach him a lesson.

At the same time, it would serve as a distraction, forcing Mephisto to abandon his invasion of Hell's borders.

Now—

The battle between Aaron and Tiboro had reached its conclusion.

When an explosion like a miniature sun erupted, the Sixth Dimension was torn apart by the sheer intensity of their fight!

Even though Tiboro hadn't managed to fully mobilize his magic, the clash between them left permanent scars on the dimension.

The void was shattered.

Space vortices spun wildly, chaotic energy surged in all directions, and the ground was reduced to rubble.

The enslaved inhabitants had long been wiped out by the aftermath of their battle.

Even the massive Screaming Colossus had permanently lost an arm, with the rest of its body suffering various degrees of damage.

This was despite Tiboro desperately channeling all available energy to protect it.

On the other hand, Aaron—

At the moment of the explosion, he had received a massive energy boost. This was the most immense force he had ever unleashed.

Magic power couldn't be measured numerically.

His physical strength alone surpassed even Superman's.

A million tons? Ten million? A billion?

These were far too low!

Mount Tai alone weighed hundreds of billions of tons.

Yet if it had been placed at the center of this battle, the sheer energy unleashed in that instant would have obliterated it.

The Sixth Dimension wasn't enormous, but compared to mountains, it was still colossal.

And yet, even it had been shattered.

This alone was proof of how intense their fight had been.

Aaron had expended a massive amount of energy.

But the moment his attack ended, his Energy Absorption began.

He continuously reclaimed the overflowing energy.

At the same time, he sent a duplicate of himself to deal with the Screaming Colossus.

Inside the colossus, Tiboro stared blankly at the ruined Sixth Dimension—then at Aaron, who remained completely unscathed.

A tsunami of disbelief crashed over him.

Was this guy even human?

Why had he never heard of this figure before?!

It didn't make sense!

If such an existence had been active in the real universe, he should have known about it.

If someone this powerful lived on Earth, what was the point of planning an invasion?

That wasn't an invasion—that was suicide!

Tiboro was utterly shaken.

He had exhausted all his abilities.

Even if he had more magic to use, it was meaningless in a battle of this magnitude.

Yet when he saw that Aaron hadn't even personally moved against him—but had instead sent a mere duplicate—he felt utterly humiliated.

He was still a Dimensional Lord!

To be treated with such disdain—

Unforgivable!!

Tiboro clenched his remaining hand into a fist.

He gathered all his remaining strength and launched a final attack.

At that moment, as the colossus moved, he was certain that he had drawn Aaron's attention—

And then, he abruptly broke free from the stone statue and fled!

Fighting was impossible.

His opponent's power far exceeded his own.

And that strange Energy Absorption Ability...

At this rate, Aaron wouldn't just sustain himself—he'd fully replenish his strength in no time.

How could he possibly win?

Faced with Aaron, it felt as if he was the true ruler of the Sixth Dimension—

And Tiboro was the intruder.

Aaron watched Tiboro flee but made no attempt to stop him.

His opponent had already lost.

His courage had been shattered.

But he was still the master of the Sixth Dimension.

Continuing to fight would only drain unnecessary energy.

Now that Tiboro had chosen to abandon his domain and flee, Aaron had the perfect opportunity to absorb the remaining energy.

Without Tiboro's control, the Screaming Colossus was nothing more than a massive husk.

Aaron's duplicate swiftly dismantled it.

Then, using atomic recombination, he completely broke it down.

Thus, the battle for the Sixth Dimension came to an end.

Once Aaron had absorbed as much energy as he could, he turned and left.

This fight had been far more brutal than he had expected—

But the outcome was favorable.

Tiboro had lost his status as a Dimensional Lord.

And while Aaron had expended a great deal of energy, he had absorbed even more—

A huge net gain.

With his departure—

The Sixth Dimension was left as nothing more than an empty ruin.

Not even the other Dimensional Lords saw any value in claiming it.

Only swirling space vortices and countless lost souls remained...

And from afar, the other Dimensional Lords who had been watching felt a chill.

If this mysterious invader had chosen to attack them instead—

Would they have stood a chance?

Absolutely not.

Not even comparable to the other side.

At the very least, they lacked the strength to unleash such a devastating attack.

Unless the Dimensional Lords intervenes, this dimension will collapse on its own.

But that level of destruction is only impressive in appearance—if it truly struck an enemy, it wouldn't be as terrifying as it seems.

"Everyone, we need to have a serious discussion. Who among you saw the one who invaded the Sixth Dimension?"

"No. This power is unfamiliar—I've never encountered anything like it before."

"It must be some powerful Dimensional Lord. Otherwise, who else would steal such vast amounts of energy after defeating Tiboro?"

"No, you're mistaken. If it really were a Dimensional Lord, why wouldn't they take these souls as well?"

"Maybe… they just weren't interested?"

"I also don't believe it was a Dimensional Lord. If it were, they wouldn't have abandoned an integrated dimension after defeating Tiboro. What would be the point? Just to make trouble for him?"

"You all know what kind of being Tiboro is. Aside from lashing his stone statue, he spends every day whipping slaves in his domain. Would that be enough to provoke someone of that level?"

"Enough. There's no need for idle speculation—it's better to ask them directly."

One of the Dimensional Lords pointed toward the lingering souls.

The others nodded in agreement.

"I have a suggestion. From now on, we should maintain communication and form a temporary alliance. If any of us are invaded by an unknown entity, the rest will join forces to provide support."

"That way, even if stronger Mephistas attempt to consume us, they won't succeed so easily."

"Agreed!"

"I'm in."

The Dimensional Lords, for once, united in purpose.

Their individual strength was limited, and in order to survive, they had no choice but to band together for mutual protection.

This was the law of survival in the dimensions.

Afterward, each of them took a portion of the remaining souls, preparing to return and torment them at their leisure.

As for the Sixth Dimension—it was abandoned.

Its only remaining value lay in the souls left behind.

Limbo

Amidst the cheers of her subordinates, the Queen of Limbo returned to the throne.

The demons in Limbo, after witnessing this battle's aftermath, felt an even deeper reverence for her.

Though they had not watched the battle firsthand, the outcome was clear—she had retained her throne despite facing two Dimensional Lord in unison.

And those two Dimensional Lord had left.

This meant that she had single-handedly repelled them.

Realizing this, none of them dared to entertain any thoughts of rebellion.

One by one, they eagerly expressed their loyalty.

Illyana understood their mentality but made no effort to expose them.

She had never sought the loyalty of demons.

Demons were creatures of deceit and betrayal.

They would rally behind power, but at the slightest sign of weakness—

They would devour you instead.

After such an intense battle, Illyana had no patience to deal with them. With a simple wave of her hand, she dismissed them all, then sat alone on her throne, lost in thought.

At that moment—

A familiar portal appeared in the open space before her.

The figure she had longed for day and night stepped through.

Despite her exhaustion, Illyana immediately stood up.

"Illyana, have you forgotten what I told you?"

The slightly reproachful voice made her eyes sting.

She forced herself to remain composed, unwilling to show any sign of vulnerability.

"...I remember every word you said. Back then, you told me that if I ever faced an insurmountable enemy, I should call for you."

"And did you?"

"I…"

She wanted to boast that she had the strength to defend Hell's borders for him.

But as she recalled the battle, her confidence wavered, and she lowered her head.

Yes, she had held off Aggamon and Tiboro on her own.

She had even been confident in driving them away.

But they had not been her only enemies.

Mephisto had been lurking in the shadows, watching.

Even if she had managed to force the two Dimensional Lords to retreat, she would never have been able to escape Mephisto's ambush.

And if that happened—

Limbo would have fallen into enemy hands.

She would have betrayed Aaron's trust.

"Now that you understand the risks, you should remember this even more—if you encounter any trouble, come to me."

"I don't want to hear about it secondhand, or have some other magician inform me that you were bullied. Understood?"

"I understand…"

Illyana nervously rubbed her hands together, completely devoid of the commanding presence she had displayed before her subjects.

Suddenly—

A pair of warm hands rested on her head.

Gently playing with her two devil horns.

Illyana's face burned red.

"T-That… is it ugly? Don't touch them, you'll get your hands dirty."

Since the Bloodstone had fused with her, Illyana had begun to develop a more human consciousness.

She felt conflicted about her demonic features.

She used human gestures more frequently now, only reverting to her demon form when facing overwhelming enemies.

Now, with Aaron suddenly touching her devil horns—

A mix of nervousness and embarrassment welled up inside her.

"Ugly? No. Actually…"

Aaron didn't say they were beautiful.

Instead, he simply touched them again, his expression calm, without a hint of disgust.

"They feel quite nice."

His casual remark instantly put Illyana at ease.

At least—he didn't hate her demonized form.

At that moment, Aaron spoke again.

"If you ever grow tired of staying here, talk to the Ancient One. She can let you travel to the real universe. Then, you can come to me."

Ilyana's eyes widened in surprise.

"Are you… inviting me?"

"Of course. You can visit me anytime."

Aaron smiled.

He understood.

Illyana was still just a girl, and prolonged isolation in Hell was unhealthy for her.

He also knew that she took his words as absolute.

Because of a single promise, she had stubbornly remained here to guard the border of Hell, even though she longed to explore the real universe.

She had endured this solitude for half a year.

If he hadn't spoken up, she might have stayed much longer.

Illyana gazed at him in silence for a moment, then nodded firmly.

Then, worry crossed her face.

"Aggamon and Tiboro left because of you, didn't they? Won't that affect your plans? If the Dimensional Lords find out what you're up to…"

Her voice lowered.

"They might unite against you."

"It's fine. I've already made arrangements."

Aaron reassured her.

Mephisto might suspect his connection to Illyana, but he could only speculate.

After all, Mephisto was well aware of Aaron's ties to Kamar-Taj.

It wouldn't be difficult for him to gather intelligence on various dimensional realms.

But Aaron had already laid the groundwork to dispel those suspicions.

After giving her a few more instructions—

Aaron opened a portal and left.

Illyana could only watch, reluctant to see him go.

The Real Universe – New York

The city's night was anything but peaceful.

As countless people slept, others stirred—

Like vermin emerging from the shadows.

And tonight, a particular group of troublemakers had set their sights on something big.

The man known as Electro led his crew to encircle their target.

They could barely contain their excitement.

Unlike in space, Earth wasn't a place where they could act freely.

They couldn't even go to a bar without drawing attention.

But for the sake of eight billion dollars, they had remained quiet for a full day.

Now, under the cover of darkness, they made their move.

As they did—

Two figures watched them from the shadows, amusement in their eyes.

[Please check my patreon/OGCrafter for 20+ chapters]